Baltimore

Antique Man

This has got to be the most interesting store to browse in the city. The Antique Man combines everything you would expect from a fancy antique store, an eccentric tchotchke shop, and a decommissioned traveling carnival train. The packed, cramped store, which seems to be a large garage, keeps Marylin Monroe sculptures, antique mirrors (which help you get lost), all sorts of odd paintings, rare books, creepy puppets, and an extraordinary array of vintage National Bohemian poster ads.

Sat-Sun 1PM-5PM

Bazaar

Curiosity-themed gift shop with a wide selection of natural history gifts, including framed insects, taxidermy, antiques, jewelry, and home goods.

Noon-5PM, closed Tuesdays

Blick Art Supplies

A well-known and well-stocked art supply store. It may not be the type of store to attract visitors, but it does show off what this artsy neighborhood is about. Very knowledgeable staff, unsurprisingly.

Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-5PM

Broadway Market

A historic covered market dating back to 1785, in a very visible location on Broadway, this is a good place for a browse of its gift shops and flower store, and perhaps to grab a sandwich.

Mon-Sat 7:30AM-6PM

Collectors Corner

Baltimore's biggest and likely most beloved comic book store (for those who know the area, anyway), with a huge selection of comics, manga, miscellaneous paraphernalia, games, and DVDs. Friendly, well stocked, and well organized. Weekly gaming sessions and movie nights.

Mon-Tue noon-8PM, Wed-Sat 11AM-9PM, Sun noon-6PM

Cross St Tobacco

This is one of Baltimore's best cigar shops, with nice owners and a pleasant cigar lounge in the back with coffee and cable TV.

Mon-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-6PM

Dan's Brothers

Classy shoestore with classy shoes and classy service. The selection is big, and the staff are excellent. Not a place for sneaks.

Downtown Locker Room

This is the place for your limited and rare Jordan's, Nike's, etc. Big selection and unusually low prices.

Mon-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-7PM

Funky Beehive

As the Hon-do name suggests, this is a fun place to shop for Baltimore souvenirs, with requisite hon glasses and Natty Boh apparel. Fun, eccentric gifts abound.

Wed-Sun

Harborplace

Broken up into two buildings. A third, the gallery on the other side of Pratt Street, has closed. This is a deserted mall in the middle of changing hands. There is a lobster roll joint, an Irish pub, a Cheesecake Factory, an Uno and not much else. One store sells primarily products made or popularized in Baltimore.

Housewerks

Baltimore's most eccentric home salvage/antiques store has an assortment of goods that is just plain strange. Even if you don't plan to buy something, a browse is certainly an interesting way to pass some time.

Fri-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun noon-4PM

Karmic Connection

Unaware that the 60s are over, this tobacco shop sells, ahem, "smoking accessories," spiritual goods, etc., as well as slightly less out-there cigarettes and cigars.

Sun-Thu 11AM-8PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-9PM

Pandora's Box

This funky little shop has all sorts of eclectic gifts, from home decor to jewelry to silly mugs.

Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat 10AM-8PM, Sun 11AM-6PM

Poppy and Stella

Regularly voted the number one women's boutique in the city, this store will hit your pocketbook hard, but you'll come out with great items. Principally a high class-brand shoe store, Poppy and Stella also has an impressive selection of handbags and jewelry.

Mon-Sat 11AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-6PM

Rim Source

Preeminent rims shop and fictional front of the Marlo operation in The Wire, there just is no better place for a lark cruiser purchase, or just some fancy upgrades to trick out your current car. This is another one of those "real Baltimore" spots.

Mon-Sat 10AM-7PM

Samuelson's Diamonds

The City Paper gives Samuelson's, another venerable family-run Baltimore shop, the nod for best place in the city to buy an engagement ring.

Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat Sun 10AM-4PM

Security Square Mall

In the far-western neighborhood of Woodlawn that straddles the Beltway.

Shockers Smoke Shop

This is basically a high end "head shop," where you'll find glass blowers actually creating bongs in shop. Custom glass pipes of all sorts can be commissioned at the shop. Plenty of other, ahem, paraphernalia, but expect it to be a bit more pricey than usual.

Mon-Fri 11AM-8PM, Sat noon-7PM, Sun 1PM-5PM

Shoe City Sports

While the selection here is not quite up to par with DTLR above, it's in the same mall, so sneakerheads should certainly stop by on the same stop.

Mon-Thu 10AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 11AM-7PM

Ten Thousand Villages

A bigger store for hand-crafted, artisanal, "fair trade" gifts collected here from around the world.

Mon-Thu 10AM-7PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-8PM, Sun noon-6PM

The Book Escape

Federal Hill's used bookstore also has garnered several "best of Baltimore" awards from the City Paper over the years, and it is indeed a fun place for book lovers to stop in. The selection is wide and refreshingly well-organized.

10AM-6PM daily

The Book Thing

Free books! Take as many as you like, leave as many as you like, do anything you like with them (except re-sell them). Boxes are provided.

The Paper Herald

New (since 2021) independent store a block east of the Washington Monument, selling stationery, notebooks, pens, pencils, greeting cards, and related items.

The Sound Garden

Chosen by Rolling Stone as the second best record store in the country, this is a good stop. In addition to new and used vinyl, the store also carries DJ equipment, CDs, BlueRay, DVDs, and video games. Selections of jazz and hip hop are particularely noteworthy, as is the expert staff.

Sun-Thu 10AM-10PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-midnight

Viva Books

A fairly new bookstore (opened 2021) focused on the arts. Mix of new and used books.

Vú Skateboard Shop

A skater-owned and operated skate shop, with an ethos that includes donations and demonstrations for lower income communities and keeping a small ramp in the back, in case they start feeling bored. Pronounced "view," and stocked with apparel, boards, and accessories.

Mon-Sat noon-8PM, Sun noon-6PM

Wockenfuss Candies

This little shop has a pretty wild variety of chocolates, truffles, and other candies. The City Paper really likes its marzipan.

Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM

Zeke's

Sells beans only, but they are the best coffee beans money can buy!

Mon-Sat 7AM-6PM, Sun 7AM-4PM

Zelda Zen

Ditto the description for both Curiosity and Pandora's Box—the quirky gifts market here is fiercely competitive! Except this one also has Christmas ornaments, some clothes, and a bit of Baltimore kitsch. If this sounds appealing, you should obviously stop in both here and in Pandora's, which is virtually next door.

Mon-Fri 10AM-7PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-6PM

Curiosity

The name gives it away—you won't find whatever you were looking for, but something amongst the fun browsing inside will get your interest piqued. Good spot for gifts, particularly retro, antique, or just plain eccentric home decor.